Jobs that are 4 weeks on/4 weeks off
Discussion
I’m currently working in the unglamorous world of IT, I’m a project manager at the moment, but have done various jobs within project and service management since starting as a support engineer 15 years ago. Which means I find it easy enough to find jobs within my sphere of IT, but I don’t have any real technical skills to speak of. I’m in my mid 30’s now, and I’m seen more as a manager than a techie these days, which is sad, but probably correct. My only qualifications since Uni have been an ITIL course.
What I would really love to do, is work in a job where I could do a rotation shift, something like 28 days on/28 days off, or a few weeks on and a few weeks off. I know these jobs tend to be in oil and gas or offshore somewhere, and it’s not something I have any experience or contacts for. But are there any jobs of this ilk that are close to my skillset? I’m happy to work in any location, nationally or internationally, I have nothing that ties me to this country, and part of the reason I want to work the rotation is so I can travel more. I had a friend who went and worked as an operations manager, looking after a 24 hour IT team in Libya. He was doing a month on/month off job for around 8 years until instability in the region sent him home.
Is what I have asked for possible, or is it just a pipe dream?
Edited to try and remove the "over 18" emoticon, not sure why that is there. I told you I'm no longer technical
What I would really love to do, is work in a job where I could do a rotation shift, something like 28 days on/28 days off, or a few weeks on and a few weeks off. I know these jobs tend to be in oil and gas or offshore somewhere, and it’s not something I have any experience or contacts for. But are there any jobs of this ilk that are close to my skillset? I’m happy to work in any location, nationally or internationally, I have nothing that ties me to this country, and part of the reason I want to work the rotation is so I can travel more. I had a friend who went and worked as an operations manager, looking after a 24 hour IT team in Libya. He was doing a month on/month off job for around 8 years until instability in the region sent him home.
Is what I have asked for possible, or is it just a pipe dream?
Edited by Moominho on Monday 27th October 11:28
Edited to try and remove the "over 18" emoticon, not sure why that is there. I told you I'm no longer technical
Edited by Moominho on Monday 27th October 11:29
Can't really suggest anything of much use to you but I do 3 weeks on 3 weeks off in aviation. It's great in some ways in that you never have to battle with the morning rush hour, don't have to suffer getting up early in the miserable British winter and your living costs for food and drink are halved because you're not at home (providing you get per diems or an allowance at work).
However, there are some serious downsides. You can pretty much guarantee that if your family or mates plan something it will be when you're away. You'll miss birthdays, celebrations, Christmas and lots of events you wanted to go to. Everyone with a normal job works during the week, so you need a hobby to entertain yourself during the day. You WILL miss what little British summer we get - I've missed all the decent weather for the last three years.
The worst bit is that even though I enjoy my job and work with great people, you spend basically six months of the year wishing your life away, wanting your rotation to end and wanting to get home. And then two or three days before you're due to start your rotation you're anxious of the fact you're going away again for X number of weeks.
On the plus side it really means that you do no commuting and very little mileage. Fuel economy becomes something you never even consider when you're only doing 3000 miles a year! V8s become a sensible choice!
However, there are some serious downsides. You can pretty much guarantee that if your family or mates plan something it will be when you're away. You'll miss birthdays, celebrations, Christmas and lots of events you wanted to go to. Everyone with a normal job works during the week, so you need a hobby to entertain yourself during the day. You WILL miss what little British summer we get - I've missed all the decent weather for the last three years.
The worst bit is that even though I enjoy my job and work with great people, you spend basically six months of the year wishing your life away, wanting your rotation to end and wanting to get home. And then two or three days before you're due to start your rotation you're anxious of the fact you're going away again for X number of weeks.
On the plus side it really means that you do no commuting and very little mileage. Fuel economy becomes something you never even consider when you're only doing 3000 miles a year! V8s become a sensible choice!
simonej said:
Can't really suggest anything of much use to you but I do 3 weeks on 3 weeks off in aviation. It's great in some ways in that you never have to battle with the morning rush hour, don't have to suffer getting up early in the miserable British winter and your living costs for food and drink are halved because you're not at home (providing you get per diems or an allowance at work).
However, there are some serious downsides. You can pretty much guarantee that if your family or mates plan something it will be when you're away. You'll miss birthdays, celebrations, Christmas and lots of events you wanted to go to. Everyone with a normal job works during the week, so you need a hobby to entertain yourself during the day. You WILL miss what little British summer we get - I've missed all the decent weather for the last three years.
The worst bit is that even though I enjoy my job and work with great people, you spend basically six months of the year wishing your life away, wanting your rotation to end and wanting to get home. And then two or three days before you're due to start your rotation you're anxious of the fact you're going away again for X number of weeks.
On the plus side it really means that you do no commuting and very little mileage. Fuel economy becomes something you never even consider when you're only doing 3000 miles a year! V8s become a sensible choice!
Pretty good post about rotational work, AND if you're in a relationship, make sure it is very strong!However, there are some serious downsides. You can pretty much guarantee that if your family or mates plan something it will be when you're away. You'll miss birthdays, celebrations, Christmas and lots of events you wanted to go to. Everyone with a normal job works during the week, so you need a hobby to entertain yourself during the day. You WILL miss what little British summer we get - I've missed all the decent weather for the last three years.
The worst bit is that even though I enjoy my job and work with great people, you spend basically six months of the year wishing your life away, wanting your rotation to end and wanting to get home. And then two or three days before you're due to start your rotation you're anxious of the fact you're going away again for X number of weeks.
On the plus side it really means that you do no commuting and very little mileage. Fuel economy becomes something you never even consider when you're only doing 3000 miles a year! V8s become a sensible choice!
IT would open doors on rotation in oil & gas, or telecoms. Worth checking with any of the big agencies related to both sectors.
jshell said:
Pretty good post about rotational work, AND if you're in a relationship, make sure it is very strong!
I'd forgotten about that. Fortunately I have a very understanding wife, BUT when I come home I basically become a 'house-husband' as she works full time. My first day back is usually spent cleaning the house from top to bottom and doing 'the big shop' as she generally empties all the cupboards while I'm away. I also end up doing all the cooking as part of the 'real'.But, it works for us and generally the time apart does the relationship a lot of good. It actually makes the time together a bit more special.
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